The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-05-06
CHAPTER TX.
NTE's 8 ny.

Shortly after the old Boer had gone, John
went into the yard Of the hotel to see to the
inspanning of the Cape cart, when his atten
ton was at once arrested by the sight Of q
row in active progress-at least, from the
crowd of Kaffirs and idlers and the angry
sounds and curses that proceeded from them,
he judged that it was q row. Nor was be
wrong about it. In the corner Of tho yard,
close ty the stable door, surrounded by the
aforesaid crowd, stood Frank Muller, q heavy
sjambock in his raised hand above his head,
as though in the act to strike. Before him, a
very picture of drunken fury, his lips drawn
up like q snarling dogs so that the two lines
Of his white teeth cleaned like polished ivory
in tho sunlight, his small eyes all shot with
blood, and his face working convulsively, was
the Hottentot Jantje Nor was this all.
Across his face was blue wheal where the
whip had fallen, and in his hand heavy
white handled knife which he always carried.
"Hullo! what il all thisf' said John Shout
dering his way through the crowd.
1.-THE swartsel (black creature) has stolen
my hoses forage and given it to yours!r
shouted Muller, who was evidently almost off
his head with rage, making an attempt to hit
Jantje with the whip as he spoke. The latter
avoided the blow by jumping behind John,
with the result that the tip Of the sjambock
caught the Englishman on the leg.
"Be careful sir, with that whip" said John
to Muller, restraining his temper with diff
Guilty. "Now, how do you know that the
man stole your Lorse's forage, and what bust.
ness have you to touch him2 If there was
anything wrong you should have reported it
to me-"
ale lies, baas, he lies!" yelled the Hotten-
tot in tremulous, high pitched tones HE
than liar. YahI yah! can tell things
about Lim. The land is English now, and the
Beers can't kill the black people as they like.
That nan-that Boer, Muller, he shot my
father and my mother-my father first, then
my mother; he gave her two bullets-she did
not die the first time"
"You yellow devil! You black skinned,
black hearted, lying son Of Satan" roared
the great Boer, his very beard curling with
fury. "Is that the way you talk to your
masters? Out of the light, rooibaatje" SOL
dier)--this was to Jehn-"aud will cut his
tongue out of him I'll show him how we
deal with yellow liar;" and without further
ado he made rush for the Hottentot As he
came, John, whose blood was now thoroughly
up, put out his open hand and bending for
ward pushed with all his strength on Muller's
advancing chest. John was q very power
fully made man, though not very large
one, and the push sent Muller staggering
back.
"What do you mean ny that, rooibaatjel"
shouted Muller his face livid with fury.
"Get out of my road or will mark that
pretty face Of yours. have some goods to
pay you for as it is, Englishman, and
always pay my debts. Out Of the path, curse
you'll" and he again rushed for the Hottentot
This time John. who was now almost as
angry as his nssailant, did not wait for him
to reach him, but springing forward, hooked
his arm around Mullers throat, and before
he could close with him with one tremendous
jerk managed not only to stop his wild career,
but to reverse the motion, and then, by inter-
posing his foot with considerable neatness, to
land him, powerful man as he was, on his
back in pool of drainage that had collected
from the stable in the hollow Of the inn yard.
Down he went with splash and amid a